1792 half disme sold for $1.5 million
Bajajim
Posts: 529 ✭
The front page of the Orange County register this morning has a picture of Steven Contursi, president of Rare Coin Wholesalers, and the ms 68 half disme that he sold to a non profit organization (The Cardinal Colletion Educational Foudation) for $1.5 million. It was surprising to see this as a front page story when I opened the paper this morning.
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Contoursi with the disme
--Severian the Lame
<< <i>The front page of the Orange County register this morning has a picture of Steven Contursi, president of Rare Coin Wholesalers, and the ms 68 half disme that he sold to a non profit organization (The Cardinal Colletion Educational Foudation) for $1.5 million. It was surprising to see this as a front page story when I opened the paper this morning. >>
What is the Cardinal Collection Educational Foundation?
At 17.5 mm in diameter, the half disme is the third-smallest coin ever made by the federal government, after the gold dollars of 1849 and 1854, experts said.
Who are these "experts" and why did they forget about the three-cent silvers, which are considerably smaller than 17.5 millimeters?
At 17.5 mm in diameter, the half disme is the third-smallest coin ever made by the federal government, after the gold dollars of 1849 and 1854, experts said.
Who are these "experts" and why did they forget about the three-cent silvers, which are considerably smaller than 17.5 millimeters?
Well, the article did say "third-smallest." I believe that would be correct, with the three-cent silvers being the smallest, the gold dollars or 1849 to 1854 being second-smallest, and the half disme being the third-smallest. Seems the paper simply left out the three-cent silvers from the article.
<< <i>Well, the article did say "third-smallest." I believe that would be correct, with the three-cent silvers being the smallest, the gold dollars or 1849 to 1854 being second-smallest, and the half disme being the third-smallest. Seems the paper simply left out the three-cent silvers from the article. >>
I read it as saying the gold dollars of 1849 and 1854 were #1 and #2, not 1A and 1B. If they meant 1A and 1B, then maybe it was an omission. If they meant 1 and 2, it was flat-out wrong.
Type 1 Gold dollars 1849-1854 (and all years between) - 13mm
Silver 3-Cent pieces - 14mm
Type 2 and Type 3 Gold dollars 1854-1889 - 15mm
1792 half disme - 17.5mm
If you consider the gold dollars (all three types) as one group, that does place the half disme as the third-smallest type. I guess the reporter just wasn't looking to pad the article with statistics on all the others.
-- Cardinal
www.EarlyUScoins.org
Coin Rarities Online
I guess the writer of the article thinks that NGC 68 doesn't quite reach mint condition.
Edited to add:
-- "Congrats, Cardinal!" --
You mean that Cardinal and this Cardinal are one and the same?
<< <i>Just checked the Redbook on this, and these would be the sizes:
Type 1 Gold dollars 1849-1854 (and all years between) - 13mm
Silver 3-Cent pieces - 14mm
Type 2 and Type 3 Gold dollars 1854-1889 - 15mm
1792 half disme - 17.5mm
If you consider the gold dollars (all three types) as one group, that does place the half disme as the third-smallest type. I guess the reporter just wasn't looking to pad the article with statistics on all the others. >>
You forgot a couple coins smaller than the 1792 Half Disme.
Type 1 Gold dollars 1849-1854 (and all years between) - 13mm
Silver 3-Cent pieces - 14mm
Type 2 and Type 3 Gold dollars 1854-1889 - 15mm
Capped Bust Half Dimes 1829-1837 - 15.5mm
Seated Liberty Half Dimes 1837-1873 - 15.5mm
Flowing Hair Half Dimes 1794-1795 - 16.5mm
Draped Bust Half Dimes 1796-1805 - 16.5mm
1792 half disme - 17.5mm
And, THANK YOU for your congratulations. It's an awesome coin and one I hope that many people are able to get to see in-person as it tours around. You can really feel the history when you look at this coin.
-Cardinal
For more info, visit www.earlyuscoins.org
This was big news in San Jose, CA. They said the Cardinal Foundation is in Sunnyvale which is local to here.
Boy it sure would be fun to see the Cardinal collection. I'll bet we can round up a bunch of local forum members who would love to have a coin show and tell party (SkyMan, SanctionII, Bekoa, me and more).
<< <i>Here's a larger image of the MS-68 rainbow-toned half disme, pedigreed to David Rittenhouse, the first director of the U.S. Mint:
-- Cardinal
www.EarlyUScoins.org >>
Wow!!! ...'nuff said.
Nice coin
I give away money. I collect money.
I don’t love money . I do love the Lord God.
Congrats, Cardinal.
I knew it would happen.
<< <i>Interesting to note ... when our country was established, our founding fathers made sure that "Science" was printed on our coins. Now "Science" has been replaced by "God" ... Cuckoo ... Cuckoo
Is that AT, NT or OT
Pick door number 3
``https://ebay.us/m/KxolR5
<< <i>Not to bash reporters who don't always get the fine details right, let's just say that "half dimes" as a group are the third smallest coins, behind the "group" of one-dollar gold pieces and the silver 3-cent pieces, at least among U.S. Federal coins. (Hopefully this won't offend the collectors of California fractional denomination gold, which are smaller than any of these.)
And, THANK YOU for your congratulations. It's an awesome coin and one I hope that many people are able to get to see in-person as it tours around. You can really feel the history when you look at this coin.
-Cardinal
For more info, visit www.earlyuscoins.org >>
Congrats!!!!
I hope it tours up here in the Seattle area
I've been told I tolerate fools poorly...that may explain things if I have a problem with you. Current ebay items - Nothing at the moment
I can't wait to see it!
I can't wait to get the book too!
-donn-
PS: I assisted them with the publicity regarding the sale.
For a large selection of U.S. Coins & Currency, visit The Reeded Edge's online webstore at the link below.
The Reeded Edge
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
<< <i>I frikkin WOKE UP thinkin of that damn half disme.
That thing eclipses the more expensive 1913 nickel and 1804 dollar by MAGNITUDES!
I guess I'd consider it CHEAP! Especially after seeing it.
Rather than being steeped in controversy, it is steeped in HISTORY!
Man, it is neat. >>
Capped Bust Half Series
Capped Bust Half Dime Series
As far as the provenance is concerned, this is the "chain of custodians" that I am aware of:
-- David Rittenhouse, first Director of the United States Mint;
-- the Rittenhouse family until sold at the Oct 1919 ANA convention auction conducted by Henry Chapman;
-- George L. Tilden whose collection was sold at auction by Thomas Lindsay Elder in June 1921;
-- a private collector (who apparently stored the coin in a Wayte Raymond album);
-- an un-named museum in New England that sold the coin at a Stack's auction in October 1988;
-- dealer Jay Parino;
-- the anonymous "Knoxville Collection" from 1988 to 2003;
-- a private collector from 2003 to January 2007;
-- dealer Steve Contursi, January - July 2007;
-- Cardinal Collection Educational Foundation
Thank you PreTurb for your assistance in chasing down the pedigree while I was evaluating this piece. You helped me to rule out some of the coin's previously alleged appearances. It was researcher and author Karl Moulton who recognized it and tied it to the 1919 ANA and George Tilden sales. Auctioneer Henry Chapman was the one who identified the coin as coming from the Rittenhouse family, stating in his 1919 ANA Sale description of the coin:
"1792 Half Disme. LIB. PAR. OF SCIENCE & INDUSTRY. 1792 (Liberty Parent of Science and Industry 1792). Bust of Martha Washington as Liberty to left. Rx UNI. STATES OF AMERICA HALF DISME* Eagle flying to left. Uncirculated. Obv. evenly centered; on upper edge across the top of the coin and just above the inscription it is not struck up and shows the file marks in the planchet. Rx not evenly centered, the milling only around half of it as it is struck a trifle low. This specimen has an interesting history being one of four that belonged to David Rittenhouse, the Astronomer and First director of the U.S. Mint, 1792-1795 and has never been out of the family until now. It is now a light steel color but perfectly uncirculated and a little gem of the greatest importance historically and a rarity too".
Karl Moulton's new book, Henry Voigt and Others Involved with America's Early Coinage (which will be released at this year's ANA in Milwaukee), reveals new research he and his wife Jenny conducted at the archives of the Philadelphia Mint. Based on that research, it is quite clear that Martha Washington's silverware was NOT the source of bullion for the half dismes. It appears that David Rittenhouse, doing his best to kick-start the Mint and get coins out to the public, provided his own bullion so that the planchets could be made up in advance and be ready for striking as soon as Washington gave the okay. Refuting a lot of what has been written elsewhere, all this and much more can be found in the new book. (Things like, who the model was for the beautiful Libertas Americana medal, where the idea came from for the Liberty cap cents and half cents to feature a small cap on a pole, and why they couldn't get better strikes on the 1794 dollars.)
-- Cardinal
www.EarlyUSCoins.org
<< <i>-- a private collector from 2003 to January 2007; >>
Was this the one that belonged to Ohio?
Thanks Cardinal!!
I just remember there being some discussion about one of the Ohio Funds owning a very high grade Half Disme and them caring it in their portfolio at a value of around $3 Million. Some thought they would never get that out of it if they were forced to liquidate.
Great Coin!!! Congrats!!
<< <i>As I understand it, the private collector who owned the coin from 2003 until January 2007 gave the coin on approval to Rare Coin Alliance (RCA), who gave it on approval to the Ohio rare coin fund. I believe RCA displayed the coin during 2004 while they attempted to put a deal together. However, neither were able to consumate a purchase and the coin was returned to the collector. >>
Do you happen to know if that private collector was from Texas?